Inside, I could hear Audrey crying in the downstairs bathroom.
I knocked softly. “Sweetheart?”
“Go away.”
“Did Derek upset you?”
“No!”
“Then talk to me. Please.”
The lock clicked. She opened the door. Her cheeks were wet and blotchy.
“It’s none of your business!” she cried. “Just leave me alone!”
She’d never spoken to me like that. Not in sixteen years.
I stepped back. I wasn’t angry. I was too shocked to be angry.
That night, lying in bed, I asked Scott to call Derek.
“About a fight over a drive-thru?” Scott said into the dark.
“About why our daughter was crying and begging him to talk to me about something.”
“Nic, you’re reading way too much into it.” He rolled over. “I’ve known Derek for thirty years. He’s practically her uncle.”
I didn’t sleep. I lay there staring at the ceiling until four in the morning, replaying her voice.
You promised you’d talk to her.
Talk to who? Talk to me? About what?
The next afternoon, I called my colleague Denise and begged her to take my last three hours. Then I got in my car and drove fifty minutes across Kansas City to Westbrook Academy without telling Scott.
And that’s how I ended up in Ms. Alvarez’s little office, holding my phone with a bank statement on the screen, learning that my daughter hadn’t danced in two weeks.
I walked out of that office in a daze.
I found Audrey outside the building, sitting on a concrete bench next to a vending machine under a flickering light. She was still wearing her school uniform. Her dance bag was at her feet. Still zipped.
When she saw me, she jumped up so fast she knocked over her can of Sprite.
“Mom? What are you doing here?”
“I came to pick you up.”
Her eyes darted past me toward the front doors. “Did you talk to Ms. Alvarez?”
“Yes.”
Her whole face hardened.
“So now you’re checking up on me? Making sure I’m really staying out of class?”
“Staying out?” I said. “Audrey, what are you talking about?”
“You don’t want me dancing here anymore!” Tears spilled down her cheeks. “Just say it!”
“No, Audrey. I never said that. Never.”
“Stop lying!”
Sophia Rivers is an experienced News Content Editor with a sharp eye for detail and a passion for delivering accurate and engaging news stories. At TheArchivists, she specializes in curating, editing, and presenting news content that informs and resonates with a global audience.
Sophia holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Toronto, where she developed her skills in news reporting, media ethics, and digital journalism. Her expertise lies in identifying key stories, crafting compelling narratives, and ensuring journalistic integrity in every piece she edits.
Known for her precision and dedication to the truth, Sophia thrives in the fast-paced world of news editing. At TheArchivists, she focuses on producing high-quality news content that keeps readers informed while maintaining a balanced and insightful perspective.
With a commitment to delivering impactful journalism, Sophia is passionate about bringing clarity to complex issues and amplifying voices that matter. Her work reflects her belief in the power of news to shape conversations and inspire change.